T minus 5 hours

Everything's set for the Cambridge talk, except I should read through the damn thing one more time, and I haven't decided what to wear. (Black corduroy suit? Grey wool suit? Jaunty green blazer over khakis?) The talk has been cut down to 7600 words—does that sound about right? Also, although I still think I'm actually not that stressed about this, my oral herpes outbreak would seem to suggest otherwise. But R— M— is coming, which is very comforting, and he's bringing a new lady-friend.(!!!)

In other news, have I mentioned that I'm going to Paris in four days? And yet, I have no place to stay. I mean, both my Paris friends agreed in principal to letting me stay with them, but neither are answering my emails, in which I try not to sound to frantic, even though I'm slightly terrified at this point, since my ticket is non-refundable. I'm sure they're just... um... busy. And I really, really cannot afford a hotel at the moment, thanks to my lovely quarterly paychecks.

If anyone knows anyone in Paris, let me know.

Also, remember that AMS travel grant I won? Why haven't I seen a penny of that money? I swear, life is tough.